Boxford celebrates 4th of July

Thursday

Jul 10, 2014 at 10:14 AMJul 10, 2014 at 10:44 AM

by Kathryn O'Brien

tritown@wickedlocal.comDespite a deluge of rain right before and after the official start of the parade, Boxford Fourth of July festivities went off without a hitch last Friday morning.Fewer residents than usual marched in the annual celebration, but those who did were enthusiastic and came dressed in red, white and blue with plenty of flags to wave.The parade kicked off with several Classic cars driving down Topsfield Road including a 1929 Model A Ford from Danvers and a 1957 Chevy Belair owned by Tim Kachel of Topsfield Road. The Martun family, dressed in red, white and blue USA shirts, rode their 5-seat bicycle along with a couple dozen other bike and trike riders. Boxford's VFW American Legion Post sent an honor guard and the selectmen followed them through the East Village. They were accompanied by State Rep. Lenny Mirra and Police Chief Michael Murphy whose birthday is also on the Fourth of July.Several members of Boxford's Historical Society passed out yummy cookies and lemonade in front of the Holyoke-French House while several tractors and fire engines drove along the parade route.After passing through the center of the East Village, the parade participants came to a halt at the East Fire Station where there was plenty of fun, food and freebies such as balloons, coloring books and fire helmets. The childen also had the chance to be "the nozzlemen" on a live fire hose, and the band Dixie Maximus performed live music in the fire house.See a full photo gallery of the Boxford Fourth of July Parade at wickedlocal.com/ boxford.